by Rob Arnstein An elephant in the room is an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss. Climate change is our elephant. It is happening. We know its causes and consequences and, broadly speaking, what we must do to address the problem. Our options are to either seek short-term benefits from our fossil fuels, threatening the survival of society, or to develop clean, renewable energy sources and sustainable lifestyles.
Our media under-reports climate change. When it is spoken of, responsibility for it is often shunted from North American producers (like coal and oil corporations) and consumers (ourselves) to distant consumers, like China. Yet, nothing that harms our air, water or soil stays in one spot. Climate change is truly global. For those who are not apocalyptic or deeply depressed, more attention to and action on climate change is needed.
Businesses in the US and Canada are planning to ship unlimited amounts of coal to China that we wisely do not burn at home. Our need of jobs for unemployed workers, instead of being mitigated in Canada, has become a source of leverage for exporters.
West coast ports, competing against other sources, will sell coal cheaply. Putting more coal into the global market could push China toward coal and away from clean, renewable energy. That’s bad news for earth.
How much time is left to save earth’s ability to support life, community and culture as we know them? Maybe we have 40 or 50 years, but only if we start now to take needed action.
Our deteriorating atmosphere has already lost much of its ability to fend off climate change. In emerging countries like China, increasing use of coal will intensify global warming effects: hurricanes like Sandy, droughts, flooding and more. Business as usual is not an option.
While caring for our families, communities, and local watersheds, we cannot afford to ignore the larger picture. Climate change has causes and effects at the broadest level. Much as we want to do what is needed, this may be possible only with the cooperation of multitudes and supportive initiatives from governmental, non-governmental and private sector organizations.
Sometimes the market requires help to meet urgent needs. Rationing in wartime? International treaties protecting whales? Bringing the true cost of carbon dioxide emissions home to both producer and consumer is essential. A growing consensus favours a market-based carbon reduction plan that can be both fair and effective.
Many industrial nations already have market-based programs for reducing carbon dioxide. We too can design and act on a suitable plan.
Canada can lobby for an international agreement with explicit national limits on carbon dioxide emissions. With the US president now voicing support for action on climate change, the opportunity for such an agreement may never be better.
If our federal government does not see the climate change elephant, then we can elect one that does. What more important legacy could we leave?
Rob Arnstein has lived in Powell River since 2006, working in the health and financial services sectors, and volunteering in service and advocacy organizations. He has studied public health, statistics and population dynamics.
